“Crime and Punishment,” in a feat that rivals the construction of the Hoover Dam, has been distilled into a taut 90-minute play by Marilyn Campbell and Curt Columbus. Just three actors tell the tale and may have you confessing to some murders yourself by the play’s end." -- The New York Times, Neill Genzlinger, 2007

“The blistering, ferocious intensity of Marilyn Campbell and Curt Columbus’ award-winning, 3 actor adaptation of Fyodor Dostoevsky’s “Crime and Punishment” plays with the dramatic force of a literary smack-down!” -- Monterey Herald, CA

"Unlike many of the fractured and sensatinalized images of violence we see everyday in our news, this play brought me so much closer to a dialogue about humanity and Justice." ----Planet Javkson Hole

“Crime and Punishment is rare, the way perfect diamonds are rare. Campbell and Columbus have done the impossible, rendering the ungainly novel in 95 minutes with such surgical skill that nothing important is omitted.” -- Kelly Kleinman, WBEZ-Chicago

“… a work of theater that never feels like a condensation of a seminal 500-page novel, but rather, has the swift, sharp impact of a blow from an ax.” --– Hedy Weiss, Chicago Sun-Times

“Using language that has nothing of the dusty 19th century about it, Campbell and Columbus have whittled this mammoth novel down to its core … When theater is pared down to the bone, nothing gets in the way of the words!” – Elizabeth Maupin, Orlando Sentinal

“When I first read this adaptation, I had that extraordinary sensation of experiencing the classic and the contemporary co-existing in one work. It is the work of playwrights like Campbell and Columbus that keeps American theatre artistically vital and connected to our world.” – Terrence J. Nolen, Producing Artistic Director, Arden Theater

“Audiences sometimes prefer their theater and literary adaptations in bite-size portions and the adaptors have shrink-wrapped the 700-page novel into a 90-minute, zero-percent-body-fat drama that is swift and devastating.” – The Washington Times

“The temperature of this 90-minute, lean-yet-muscular version of “Crime and Punishment,” is scorching!” --Seattle Times

“I have been attending shows at Actors Theater of Louisville for 25 years and have rarely missed a show (including Humana plays in the past 8). “Crime and Punishment” is easily one of the best things I’ve ever seen at ATL. Kudos to all involved for making this such a wonderful theatrical experience.” -- David Goodlett

“Being urged to see “Crime and Punishment” may feel like being urged to eat your vegetables: good for you, yet a chore. But this adaptation … remind(s) us how thrilling a classic can be. On opening night you could feel the audience holding its breath throughout the performance. Go: it will leave you breathless, too!” – AISLEsay review

“Crime and Punishment isn’t epic anymore; it’s essential. The play is direct and haunting, relevant and true …. And best of all, because it so fairly depicts the complex ideas discussed by Dostoevsky, it makes the audience want to rush out and buy a copy of this fantastic novel.” – Kϋl review by Aaron Riccio

“Marilyn Campbell and Curt Columbus’ brilliant script … distills Dostoevsky’s language into pure poetry…. Crime and Punishment is riveting and not easily forgotten.” – CurtainUp review by Paulanne Simmons

“It’s a startling feat of theatrics…. The thrilling dimension of this entertaining script is how the writers get inside his head, … experience the off-balance workings of his mind and enable us to feel his horror as he realizes the magnitude of his crime.” – CityBeat review by Rick Pender

Dear Friends,

I am so pleased to welcome you this evening to Trinity Rep's production of Dostoyevsky's Crime and Punishment. This piece has a special meaning for me, on so many levels. It was my first collaoration with the brilliant actor/writer Marilyn Campbell; It was my first time working on adapting Dostoyevsky for the stage; and it turned out to be my first widely-produced work as a writer. So widely produced, that our friends at The Gamm Theater staged this play almost eight years ago when I was interviewing to become artistic director at Trinity Rep. It may have been one of the reasons I got the job here. So you see, it is a special piece of theater to me. -- Curt Columbus, Artistic Director, Trinity Rep, Providence, RI, 2013

Production History 2003-2024

CRIME AND PUNISHMENT
adapted by Marilyn Campbell-Lowe & Curt Columbus

2024

THE STREET THEATER, Canberra, Australia

2023

Phoenix Ensemble Theatre, Phoenix, AZ

Latinovits Theatre, Budapest, Hungary, Performed in Hungarian

2022

ELER Theatre, Athens Greece, Olias Lazaridou, dir., (30 performances and City-wide tour). First translation. Greek publication pending.

2020 – 2021 (COVID)

White Bear Theatre, London, England, Jan-Feb [CANCELLED]

Prague Shakespeare Company, Prague, CZ, [ON HOLD]

Copper Village Arts Center Open Theatre Project, Anaconda, Montana

2019

Penfold Theatre Company, Austin, TX, Feb.

2018

NEO Theatre Experience, Miami, OK

University of Oxford, Corpus Christ Owlets

2017

Savage Rose Classical Theater Company, Louisville, KY

Brockley Jack Studio Theatre, London, UK

Northwestern Theatre School

2016

The Theatre School of DePaul University, Chicago, IL

2015

Salem Theater, Salem, MA, Main Stage

San Antonio Playhouse, Texas, Guest Speaker & Master Class w/Curt Columbus, Funded by the Dramatist Guild of America

2014

Mary Aarchie Theater, Chicago, IL, Feb. 4 - March 16, Dir. Richard Cotovsky (Artistic Dir.)

Gore Bay Theatre, Gore Bay, Ontario, Canada

4th Street Theater, Chesterton, IN, Dir. Sandra Assarian & Linda Pauli

2013

Trinity Rep, Providence, RI, Dir. Brian Mertes

Off Square Theater Co., Jackson, WY, Dir. John Hanlon

Lewes Theater Club, East Sussex UK

San Jose Repertory Theatre, San Jose, CA

2012

9th Hour Theatre Company, Chesterville, Ontario

Ensemble Theatre Company, Santa Barbara, CA

Classic Stage Company (Staged Reading), New York, NY

Starring, F. Murray Abraham, Michael Stulberg, directed by Anna Brenner

2011

No Strings Theatre Company and Black Box Theatre, Albuquerque, NM

Boulder Ensemble Theater, Boulder, CO

Winner! “Westword Best of Denver Award,” Best New Adaptation

Center Stage, Baltimore, MD, dir. Jason Loweth

American Players Theater, Spring Green, WI, dir. Kenneth Albers

Chester Theater Company, Chester, MA, dir. Sheila Siragusa

Actors Studio, Auckland, New Zealand, dir. Mark Huston

2010

Actors Theater of Louisville, Louisville, KY, Directed by Sean Daniels

Antelope Valley Thespians, Lancaster, CA

KOLT Run Creations, Sacramento, CA, Directed by Lisa Thew

Winners-Drama! SARTA 2010 ELLY Awards:

Winner! Best Supporting Actor, Patrick Murphy

Winner! Best Supporting Actress, Kelley Ogden

Nominations: Best Lighting Design, Best Set Design,
Best Production, Best Director, Best Actor

The Repertory Theater of St. Louis, St. Louis, Missouri, Directed by Stuart Carden

Winner! 2010 Kevin Kline Awards:

Outstanding Lighting Design - Brian Sidney Bembridge

Outstanding Set Design - Gianni Downs

Winner! 2010 Judy Award: Most Ambitious Production

Pacific Repertory Theater, Circle Theatre, Carmel, CA

All For One Productions, Fort Wayne, IN

Hawaii Repertory Theater, Honolulu, HI

Stone Town Theatre Works, Bellingham, WA

Kentucky Rep, Horse Cave, KY, Nov. 5-21, dir. Robert Brock, Artistic Dir.

2009

Berkeley Repertory, Berkeley, CA, Directed by Sharon Ott, Thrust Stage

Nominations (Bay Area Critics Circle Awards):

Best Ensemble; Best Supporting Actress (Delia MacDougall)

Cleveland Play House, Cleveland, OH, Directed by Anders Cato, Drury Theatre

Indiana Repertory Theatre, Indianapolis, IN, Directed by John Green

Intiman Theater, Seattle, WA, Directed by Shiela Daniels

Jungle Theater, Minneapolis, MN, Joel Sass directing

Pittsburgh Irish & Classical Theatre, Pittsburgh, PA, Henry Heymann Theatre

Winner! Voted one of the “Top Pittsburgh cultural events of 2009” by TribLive

A Noise Within, Glendale, CA, Directed by Craig Belknap

Winner! 2010 Garland Award, Michael A. Newcomer, Outstanding Performance

2008

Cincinnati Playhouse in the Park, Cincinnati, OH, Directed by Michael Evan Haney

Winners! 2008 Cincinnati Acclaim Awards

Winner! Best Actor, Nick Cordileone

Winner! Best Supporting Actor, John Campion

Milwaukee Chamber Theater, Milwaukee, Wisconsin, Directed by Patrick Holland

Actors Co-op, Crossley Theaters, Hollywood, CA, directed by Ken Sawyer

Winner! Ovation Award: Jeremy Pivnick (Lighting Design)

Winner! Garland Award, Backstage, Best New Adaptation

Nomination: LA Drama Critics Circle Award: Best New Adaptation

Nominations: LA Weekly, Best Actor, Best Supporting Actor, Production Design

2007

Orlando Shakespeare Festival, Orlando, FL, Directed by Artistic Director, Jim Helsinger

Round House Theatre, Silver Springs, MD, Directed by Artistic Director, Blake Robison

Winner! Helen Hayes Award -- Outstanding Set Design, Robin Stapley

Northside Theatre Company, San Jose, CA, Directed by Richard T. Orlando

Winner! Silicon Valley Theatre Award -- Outstanding Set Design, Richard T. Orlando

Theatre Underground (Capital Hills Arts Center), Seattle, WA, Directed by Sheila Daniels

Winner! 2007 Seattle Times “Fab Fringe” Footlight Award

59E59 Street Theater, New York, NY, Directed by Michael Halberstam

Record Breaker! “most seats ever sold!”

2006

Winner, “Top Pick” Orlando Shakespeare Festival’s Playfest

Arden Theater, Philadelphia, PA, Directed by Aaron Posner

2005

Gamm Theater, Pawtucket, R.I., Raskolnikov performed by Artistic Director Tony Estrella, directed by Peter Sampiari

2004

Published, TriQuarterly Magazine, Northwestern University Press

Published, Dramatic Publishing, Woodstock, IL [www.dramaticpublishing.com]

Jean Cocteau Theater (Staged Reading), New York, NY

2003

Writers Theatre, Glencoe, IL, commissioned and directed by Artistic Director Michael Halberstam

Winner, Joseph Jefferson Award, Chicago, IL, “Best New Adaptation”

AMATEUR PRODUCTIONS

Reinhardt University, Weleska, Georgia (2024)

DeMatha Catholic High School, Hyattsville, MD, 2013

Clear Creek ISD High School, League City, TX, 2012

Iona College, New Rochelle, NY, 2012

El Paso Texas High School, El Paso, Texas, 2011

Homewood High School, Homewood, Alabama, 2011

University of Chicago Theatre Department, 2011

Princeton University, Theatre Intime, Princeton, NJ, 2009

Liverpool University Drama Society, Liverpool, ME, 2008

Theater Works, Peoria, AZ, 2008

Postage Stamp Productions, Winnipeg MB, 2007

Austin High School, Austin, TX, 2006

Wallenpaupack Area S.D. High School, 2006

First Baptist Church, Portland, OR, 2005

EDUCATIONAL

Guest Speaker & Master Class w/Curt Columbus, San Antonio Playhouse, Texas, March 13 – April 5, 2015.

Panel Discussion: “Crime and Punishment: Three Perspectives,” Sept. 20, 2010, Pittsburgh, PA, panelists include, Matt Gray, Assistant Professor of Acting at Carnegie Mellon University, and director of Crime & Punishment; Vladimir Padunov, Associate Professor in the Department of Slavic Languages and Literatures at the University of Pittsburgh; and Dr. Robert Wettstein, Clinical Professor of Psychiatry at the University of Pittsburgh. Panelists will share thoughts on some of the questions raised in the play from their unique perspectives.

The 321: Theatrical Design Course in Sound 2010, Westminster College, New Wilmington, PA: Create a sound-scape for a character or moment in the world of Campbell & Columbus’ Crime and Punishment.

Open Workshop, March 2011, conducted by Artist in Residence Conall Morrison, Pavillion Theater, Dublin, Ireland. Dostoyevsky's masterwork re-imagined for three actors in a 90 minute script by Marilyn Campbell and Curt Columbus. Does it do justice to the original? Is it a completely new piece? Does it matter?